Josh Matheny Scares National Public School Record in 100-Yard Breaststroke
The future for breaststroker Josh Matheny figures to include Team USA assignments on the international level, and the Indiana University recruit made sure his final high school meet featured a dynamic performance. Racing at the Pennsylvania Class AAA Championships on Saturday night, Matheny captured his fourth consecutive state title in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Clocking a time of 51.84, Matheny was not far off the National Public School record, which was set at 51.62 by Max McHugh in 2018. Matheny won his latest state title by more than three seconds, as he went out in 24.36 and came home in 27.48.
Matheny is the latest star in a long line of breaststroke standouts from Pennsylvania, including the likes of Anita Nall, Jeremy Linn, Brendan Hansen, Kristy Kowal and Reece Whitley, among others. In 2019, Matheny captured the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the World Junior Championships, where he also earned silver in the 100 breaststroke. Whitley holds the overall scholastic record in the 100-yard breaststroke at 51.16.
The 2:09.40 that Matheny posted for his junior world title is his personal best, but with it coming more than a year ago, Matheny figures to be much faster and a legitimate threat in the 200 breaststroke at this summer’s United States Olympic Trials in Omaha.
The state-championship meet got off to an excellent start for the senior, as he propelled Upper St. Clair High School to the title in the 200 medley relay. USC was timed in 1:31.42, with Matheny producing a 50-yard breaststroke split of 23.36. Matheny also took gold in the 200 individual medley, where his effort of 1:47.54 gave him a comfortable decision over Daniel Simoes (1:50.13).